1371

RARE COLT BISLEY FLAT TOP TARGET SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,500.00 - 12,500.00 USD
RARE COLT BISLEY FLAT TOP TARGET SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.
SN 171720. Cal. 455 Eley. All blue finish with 7-1/2" bbl, altered front sight and 1-line block letter address with "(BISLEY MODEL) 455 ELEY" roll marking on left side. Bottom of bbl is marked with a tiny "45" just in front of the frame. Bottom of bbl & cyl in the flutes are marked with tiny British proofs. Frame is flat top target style with fixed target rear sight. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates and rampant Colt in a circle. Mounted with smooth walnut grips that have last three digits of matching SN inside each grip. SN was observed in the usual places, on the frame, trigger guard & buttstrap with the last three digits of the matching SN on rear face of cylinder. Front sight was originally a fixed blade, integral with the bbl but has been altered by adding a pinned-on sight with partridge blade and the orig sight filed flat on top and in the front. Front strap, just behind the trigger guard, has a plugged hole, probably for attaching a grip adapter. Accompanied by an orig blue felt lined English oak casing with replacement brass medallion in the lid, compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a brass cleaning rod and a crystal oil bottle. Left front corner of the case has an oak cartridge block containing 20 orig UMC loaded cartridges. Right rear corner has a covered triangular compartment containing a Churchill advertisement for shot shells. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, of the 976 target model Bisley revolvers produced in the period 1894-1912 only 196 were in caliber 455 Eley. These revolvers were popular in England and the majority of that production was sold over there. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in caliber 455 Eley with 7-1/2" bbl, blue finish, wood stocks and shipped to Colt Patent Firearms Mfg. Co., London Agency on June 21, 1897 in a 10-gun shipment. Under remarks: "Records also indicate special sights on this revolver." CONDITION: Fine, all matching including cyl & grips. Bbl retains about 90% orig blue with a few light wear spots and some thinning on left side; ejector housing retains strong blue in the gullets, being mostly a blue/gray patina on the outer radius; frame retains about 85% orig blue, strong & bright in sheltered areas, flaked & thinning on right side and top strap with some light freckles of pinprick pitting; trigger guard retains about 75% orig blue being a blue/gray patina on front strap & back strap; cyl retains about 80% thinning orig blue on outer diameter with strong blue in the flutes and a heavy drag line around the circumference. Grips are sound retaining most of an old refinish. Base pin is probably an old replacement. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. Case is sound with a couple of screw holes in the bottom and the usual storage & handling nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish; interior is moderately to heavily faded with light soil; partitions are solid, accessories are fine. 4-47542 JR181